It's Friday and I am looking forward to attending our home church again tomorrow night.  This time last week I wasn't sure how I would feel walking through those doors after being gone so long.  We love, love, love Fellowship Church Grapevine.  We have kept your membership there despite our contracting travels over the last year and a half.  We've watched the services online and on TV occasionally and Erik has listened to Ed's podcasts.  At first, being away was like torture for us each week as we tried to find a church, any church that would compare.  Nothing measured up I'm sad to say. 

When we began attending Fellowship we were blown away by what “church” could be....never boring...intensely worshipful...joyful volunteers...always outreaching...and the list could go on and on.  I loved being a part of something that was changing the lives of people of every age and walk of life.  My husband and I worked with third graders and knew we were making a difference.  Witnessing children coming to the Lord was a blessing I will never part with.  Aside from living away from dearly loved family, living away from Fellowship was the most difficult adjustment by far.  I have nnot felt that way about a church since I was seven, when my family moved away from the church pastored by my Grandfather.

Knowing that at this time we aren't staying in the DFW metroplex, last Saturday's decision to attend our home church was difficult.  Part of me didn't want to go because it had taken me so long to “get over” being away.  I was even afraid of the kids being disappointed when we left again in a few weeks.  I contemplated going to church with my parents instead, which would have been fine.  In the end though, joining my sister and her family at Fellowship last weekend was the best decision I could have made.  My heart squeezed as I walked toward the preschool buildings to check in my youngest child.  I'm telling you we LOVE this church.  So, I prayed silently while we walked that the Lord would give me peace tonight about our upcoming move to Colorado.  I needed the peace like you would not believe.  We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is leading us to Colorado.  His hand is ever present on the events that led up to this decision.  We know this is a permanent move for us and the last thing I need to take with me is a longing for our home church.

As we walked through the doors toward the “sanctuary” and each of the half dozen greeters smiled at us and asked how “how are you this evening?” a wash of peace came over me.  My heart no longer stung, it was joyous and light.  Have I mentioned that I have never been at a church with the volunteer staff that this church has lol.  The worship was exactly what I needed.  My eyes welled with tears of joy as I sang to my glorious Lord.  Ed's talk held nuggets that I needed to hear as I prepare to make new relationships in an unfamiliar land.  Picking up my excited children afterwards was a joy also.  I found myself grinning from ear to ear.  Even in the midst of my utter enjoyment of being a part of this church again I no longer felt that intense sadness over leaving.  God granted me the peace I needed to be able to let go...and just go where God was leading.  We don't have any idea what meeting place God has for us in the future but we know He has something in mind.

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."  Hebrews 11:8

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7